How wheels came off and Tory communications machine ground to a halt

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Struggling: David Cameron plays babmington in the garden of 10 Downing Street on WednesdayChris Helgren/AFP/Getty Images

Roland WatsonPolitical Editor

Last updated at 12:01AM, March 30 2012

This article was amended pursuant to a court order dated 31 July 2013

Two rose gardens, two weeks and 5,000 miles apart: in the shade of President
Obama’s magnolia blossom, fresh from the pageantry of a state welcome, David
Cameron furrowed his brow to talk Syria, Iran and Afghanistan. He looked
like he belonged.

In Downing Street on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s brow was troubled by a
series of mistimed forehands. Across the road, a model dressed as Marie
Antoinette was loitering outside the Treasury, sent by The Sun to
raise a banner for VAT-free pasties.

In badminton terms, the Prime Minister was out of touch. Trouble was, he also
looked like he